Explore the vast range of titles available.

The objective of the investigation was to observe the impact of player wellbeing on the training output of elite soccer players. Prospective cohort design. Forty-eight soccer players (age: 25.3±3.1years; height: 183±7cm; mass: 72±7kg) were involved in this single season observational study across two teams. Each morning, pre-training, players completed customised perceived wellbeing questionnaires. Global positioning technology devices were used to measure external load (total distance, total high-speed running distance, high speed running, player load, player load slow, maximal velocity, maximal velocity exposures). Players reported ratings of perceived exertion using the modified Borg CR-10 scale. Integrated training load ratios were also analysed for total distance:RPE, total high speed distance:RPE player load:RPE and player load slow:RPE respectively. Mixed-effect linear models revealed significant effects of wellbeing Z-score on external and integrated training load measures. A wellbeing Z-score of −1 corresponded to a −18±2m (−3.5±1.1%), 4±1m (−4.9±2.1%,) 0.9±0.1kmh−1 (−3.1±2.1%), 1±1 (−4.6±2.9%), 25±3AU (−4.9±3.1%) and 11±0.5AU (−8.9±2.9%) reduction in total high speed distance, high speed distance, maximal velocity, maximal velocity exposures, player load and player load slow respectively. A reduction in wellbeing impacted external:internal training load ratios and resulted in −0.49±0.12mmin−1, −1.20±0.08mmin−1,−0.02±0.01AUmin−1 in total distance:RPE, total high speed distance:RPE and player load slow:RPE respectively. The results suggest that systematic monitoring of player wellbeing within soccer cohorts can provide coaches with information about the training output that can be expected from individual players during a training session.

The effects of long-term cigarette smoke exposure on pulmonary physiology and how those effects lead to reduced exercise capacity are not well established. We retrospectively analyzed the spirometry, single-breath gas transfer (DLCO), peripheral muscle strength, and maximum exercise capacity data in patients referred to McMaster University Medical Centre for cardiopulmonary exercise testing between 2000 and 2012. 29,441 subjects underwent CPET and had a recorded smoking history [58% male, mean age 51.1 years (S.D.±19.6), BMI 27.4 kg/m.sup.2 (±5.8)]. 7081 (24%) were current or former smokers and were divided into 4 categories by packs years (mean ±S.D.): 40 (53.9±12.8). Patients with greater cigarette smoke exposure had lower expiratory flow rates (FEV1, FEF50, FEF75, PEFR), DLCO, and maximum power output (MPO) during exercise. There was no association between smoke exposure and muscle strength. Modeling MPO (kpm/min) output as a function of demographic and physiologic variables showed that the data are well explained by muscle strength (kg), FEV1 (L), and DLCO (mmHg/min/mL) in similar magnitude (MPO = 42.7*Quads.sup.0.34 *FEV1.sup.0.34 * DLCO.sup.0.43 ; r = 0.84). Long-term cigarette smoke exposure is associated with small airway narrowing and impaired diffusion capacity but not with peripheral muscle weakness. The effects of smoking, age, and gender on maximum power output are mediated by reductions in FEV1, muscle strength and DLCO. Exercise capacity in smokers may benefit from therapies targeting all 3 variables.

Background Various factors may affect lung function at different stages in life. Since investigations that simultaneously consider several factors are rare, we examined the relative importance of early life, current environmental/lifestyle factors and allergic diseases on lung function in 15-year-olds. Methods Best subset selection was performed for linear regression models to investigate associations between 21 diverse early life events and current factors with spirometric parameters (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s and maximal mid-expiratory flow (FEF 25–75 )) in 1326 participants of the German GINIplus and LISAplus birth cohorts. To reduce model complexity, one model for each spirometric parameter was replicated 1000 times in random subpopulations ( N  = 884). Only those factors that were included in >70% of the replication models were retained in the final analysis. Results A higher peak weight velocity and early lung infections were the early life events prevalently associated with airflow limitation and FEF 25–75 . Current environmental/lifestyle factors at age 15 years and allergic diseases that were associated with lung function were: indoor second-hand smoke exposure, vitamin D concentration, body mass index (BMI) and asthma status. Sex and height captured the majority of the explained variance (>75%), followed by BMI (≤23.7%). The variance explained by early life events was comparatively low (median: 4.8%; range: 0.2–22.4%), but these events were consistently negatively associated with airway function. Conclusions Although the explained variance was mainly captured by well-known factors included in lung function prediction equations, our findings indicate early life and current factors that should be considered in studies on lung health among adolescents.

AbstractThe unsteady measurement of spatiotemporally varying flow structures in a low-speed wind tunnel using a continuous wave (CW) laser-based time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) setup was extensively evaluated in the near wake behind a circular cylinder. A CW laser with a maximum power of 25 W in combination with a high-speed camera operating at 7 kHz was used to determine the wake flows at two different free-stream flow speeds: U0 = 5 and 10 m/s. Three different camera exposure times were selected for comparison: τ = 20, 50, and 80 μs. In the experiments, the low-repetition conventional PIV setup using the high-power pulsed laser (τ = 8 ns, 135 mJ/pulse) was used to determine the time-mean and statistical flow quantities, which served as the reference for determining the deviation in the TR-PIV measurements. At the lower flow speed of U0 = 5 m/s, the time-mean-separated flow patterns and the streamwise velocity profiles in all of the TR-PIV systems showed satisfactory agreement with the conventional PIV measurements, along with accurate capture of the large-scale Karman vortex and its harmonic behaviors. At the higher flow speed of U0 = 10 m/s, the measurement at τ = 50 μs gave a relatively accurate representation of the statistical flow quantities. At the longest exposure time of τ = 80 μs, considerable deviations in the time-mean streamwise fluctuation intensity and the TKE (turbulence kinetic energy) were observed due to the streaky particle image. The strong swirling motion of the large-scale vortical structures increased the deviation in the TR-PIV measurements, which increased with the increasing camera exposure time. Further POD analysis demonstrated that the leading energetic modes in the system with τ = 50 μs accurately determined the spatial features of the Karman-like vortex and its harmonic events. However, inaccurate vector representation of the second harmonic events was observed in the system with τ = 80 μs. Finally, for both flow speeds, the lower-order reconstructed phase-dependent representations of the Karman-like vortex and its harmonic behaviors were composed of the time-series velocity vector fields determined using the system with τ = 50 μs, thus providing a straightforward quantitative view of the coupled unsteady events.Graphical Abstract

DEHP (Di-ethyl hexyl phthalate), an ubiquitous chemical constituent of plasticizer, cosmetics etc. poses different abnormal neurological and behavioral responses in eukaryotic model organism C. elegans ( Caenorhabditis elegans ). Based upon such reports, we hypothesized that due to exposure of DEHP, the larval growth of C. elegans was altered and animals went into dauer at high concentrations of exposure at 8.26 ppm. Using chemosensory assay, the orientation of repulsion (− 0.1) of the nematodes were determined with exposure of DEHP at 4.78 ppm and 8.26 ppm. We show that N2 wild type worms display a preferential food choice and search for favorable food, and alter two modes of locomotion (forward and backward) that measures the maximum bending rate of an adult worm. Thermo sensation also plays a crucial role in determining the toxicity level in C . elegans at 15 °C, 20 °C, and 25 °C. Understanding the chemosensory pattern towards a specific chemical for C. elegans, the recent work could shed light in exploring the molecular mechanism involved in the tactile movement of the worms against a specific chemical, thereby making worms a potential biological sensing platform for external stimuli perception.

High energy weather events are often expected to play a substantial role in biotic community dynamics and large scale diversity patterns but their contribution is hard to prove. Currently, observations are limited to the documentation of accidental records after the passing of such events. A more comprehensive approach is synthesising weather events in a location over a long time period, ideally at a high spatial resolution and on a large geographic scale. We provide a detailed overview on how to generate hurricane exposure data at a meso-climate level for a specific region. As a case study we modelled landscape hurricane exposure in Cusuco National Park (CNP), Honduras with a resolution of 50 m×50 m patches. We calculated actual hurricane exposure vulnerability site scores (EVVS) through the combination of a wind pressure model, an exposure model that can incorporate simple wind dynamics within a 3-dimensional landscape and the integration of historical hurricanes data. The EVSS was calculated as a weighted function of sites exposure, hurricane frequency and maximum wind velocity. Eleven hurricanes were found to have affected CNP between 1995 and 2010. The highest EVSS's were predicted to be on South and South-East facing sites of the park. Ground validation demonstrated that the South-solution (i.e. the South wind inflow direction) explained most of the observed tree damage (90% of the observed tree damage in the field). Incorporating historical data to the model to calculate actual hurricane exposure values, instead of potential exposure values, increased the model fit by 50%.

Objective: This study investigated whether different electroglottographic (EGG) parameters may be used to estimate voice quality and loading related to it, and whether voice quality is related to self-estimation of voice problems and laryngeal status. The effect of sample type was also considered. Methods: EGG and acoustic signals of a sustained vowel [a:] (90 dB 6 cm ) and text reading during noise exposure were recorded from 93 female kindergarten teachers. Analyses were made from the sustained vowel and vowel [a:] from a stressed word. Contact quotient (CQ) was calculated. Maximum velocity of increase in contact area inferred from derivative (MDEGG) was examined. Fundamental frequency was calculated from the EGG signal. From the acoustic signal sound pressure level (SPL) was computed and pressedness in voice quality was evaluated perceptually. Self-evaluation was made with Voice Activity and Participation Profile (VAPP). Indirect laryngoscopy was also performed. Results: Pressedness in voice correlated with EGG results only for the sustained vowel, and better with MDEGG than CQ values. VAPP and laryngeal evaluation did not correlate with the acoustic or EGG parameters or with perception. Conclusions: MDEGG is worth testing as an indicator of impact stress. Sustained vowel at a controlled SPL is more suitable for voice quality evaluation than a long stressed vowel from connected speech.

Aims: A six year prospective cohort study was conducted to clarify whether the current carbon disulphide (CS2) exposure level is low enough to prevent subclinical health impairment and/or to ameliorate health effects due to previous high exposure. This paper describes the effects on the cardiovascular systems. Methods: The study subjects were 432 male workers exposed to CS2 and 402 non-exposed workers in Japan, all of whom were examined in 1992–93. A total of 251 CS2 exposed, 140 formerly exposed, and 359 non-exposed workers participated in the follow up survey (follow up rate 89.9%) in 1998–99. Mean duration of exposure was 19.3 years at the end the study. Mean CS2 and 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA) concentrations were 5.0 ppm and 1.6 mg/g creatinine. Health items examined were serum biochemical indices including lipids and coagulation-fibrinolysis factors, blood pressure, aortic stiffness, ophthalmography, and electrocardiography at rest and after Master’s double 2 step test. Potential confounding factors were adjusted for. Results: Incidence of ischaemic findings, defined as Minnesota codes I, IV1–3, V1–3 (at rest and after the load), or receiving treatment for ischaemia, was significantly higher in the exposed workers, especially for the spinning/refining workers (adjusted OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.1 to 4.0) or the highest quartile of six year mean TTCA (adjusted OR 3.9; 95% CI 1.8 to 8.7), although the observed increase in risk was diminished when rigorous ECG criteria were applied. Incidence of retinal microaneurysm was increased with marginal significance. Among cardiovascular risk factors we examined, only blood pressure values were significantly increased in the exposed workers. Conclusions: Increased risk of ischaemic electrocardiogram findings among Japanese viscose rayon workers was observed. Although its clinical significance is to be discussed, the current Japanese occupational exposure limit for CS2, 10 ppm, would be high to prevent subclinical cardiovascular effects in this study population.

Objectives — The effects of organic dust exposure on the configuration of the maximum expiratory flow volume (MEFV) curve was examined multivariately. Methods — Data from 390 male workers in the animal feed industry in The Netherlands were analyzed. A multivariate technique called nonlinear canonical correlation analyses was used to study the relationship between a set of organic dust exposure variables and a set of ventilatory function variables. Results — The results indicate an almost independent effect of the overall mean organic dust exposure and the number of years of organic dust exposure on ventilatory function. Increasing mean organic dust exposure was associated with a decrease in both forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0) and forced vital capacity (FVC) and decreased flows at high lung volumes only. Increasing number of years of dust exposure was associated with a decrease in FEV1.0 and a decrease in flow at all lung volumes, while the FVC seemed relatively constant. These two distinct patterns of reduction in ventilatory function may represent two different pathological processes. Whereas workers with prolonged exposure showed reduced values for all of the MEFV curve variables, except the FVC, those with only a few years of exposure especially showed a decrease in FVC and peak expiratory flow. The effect of current organic dust exposure was more evident for nonsmokers than for ex-smokers and current smokers. Conclusion — The major finding of this study was an independent effect of overall mean organic dust exposure and the number of years of organic dust exposure on the MEFV curve.

Respiratory function was studied in five groups of tea workers employed in processing different types of tea. The prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in workers processing dog-rose, sage, and gruzyan tea than in control workers. During the Monday workshift there was a significant mean acute decrease in maximum expiratory flow rates at 50% vital capacity (range: 4.1-8.8%) and at 25% VC (range: 7.8-21.8%) except in those exposed to camomile. Acute reductions in forced expiratory volume in one second were considerably smaller and mostly not significant. Mean acute reductions on Wednesday were similar to those on Monday with no significant differences between preshift Monday and Wednesday data. Acute decreases in flow rates at low lung volumes suggest that the bronchoconstrictor effect of the dust acts mostly on smaller airways. Preshift administration of disodium cromoglycate significantly diminished acute reduction in flow rates except in workers processing Indian tea. A comparison of Monday preshift values of ventilatory capacity in tea workers with those in controls indicates that exposure to tea dust may, in some workers, lead to chronic respiratory impairment.